Starting block assembly

ABSTRACT

A starting block apparatus including an elongated frame having longitudinal slots on opposite sidewalls thereof and a row of apertures on the top side thereof extending the full length of the frame. Foot-engaging blocks are disposed adjacent their respective slots and each including a protruding stud and web engageable within the slots for longitudinal movement therealong. The slots are wider than the protruding studs to enable the block to be raised and lowered therein and to further enable a locking hook mounted on the block to be selectively positioned within the various apertures.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Francis James Ross Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada [21] Appl. No. 815,664 22 Filed Apr. 14,1969 [45] Patented Sept. 28, 1971 {73] Assignee Topper Mfg. Co., Ltd.

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada [54] STARTING BLOCK ASSEMBLY 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 272/59 A, 272/70.2 [51] Int. Cl A631) 69/00 [50] Field olSearch 272/59,59 A, 701, 70.2; 248/217, 243, 295

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,714,719 5/1929 Mestel et a1. 248/295 2,323,510 7/1943 Arnett 272/59 2,675,132 4/1954 Susil 248/295 X 2,900,187 8/1959 Hondorp 272/59 2,937,871 5/1960 McCalTerty. 272/59 X 3,078,484 2/1963 Briggs 248/295 X 3,494,615 2/1970 Moore 272/59 FOREIGN PATENTS 125,753 10/1947 Australia.. 272/59 A 1,527,786 4/1968 France 272/59 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard J. Apley Attorney-Kent & Ade

ABSTRACT: A starting block apparatus including an clongated frame having longitudinal slots on opposite sidewalls thereof and a row of apertures on the top side thereofextcnding the full length of the frame. Foot-engaging blocks are disposed adjacent their respective slots and each including a protruding stud and web engageable within the slots for longitudinal movement therealong. The slots are wider than the protruding studs to enable the block to be raised and lowered therein and to further enable a locking hook mounted on the block to be selectively positioned within the various apertures.

STARTING BLOCK ASSEMBLY Conventional starting block assemblies normally used for track and field work consists of a body portion with a pair of foot pad components, one upon each side. These are usually adjustable within limits by loosening a wingnut or the like, sliding the components along a slot and then tightening the wingnut.

This conventional method suffers from several disadvantages the principal ones of which are firstly, the wingnuts tend to jam particularly when used outdoors, due to moisture and/or dust and dirt. Secondly, it is difficult to tighten them sufficiently to ensure that they do not move when the runner thrusts against them when starting. If they are tightened sufficiently for this purpose, the next runner often has difficulty in undoing these wingnuts in order to position the foot pad components to suit his particular style.

Thirdly, the wingnuts and washers and sometimes the bolts are easily displaced and lost, once again particularly when used outside upon grass or the like.

I have overcome all of these disadvantages by providing a starting block assembly which includes firstly, no removable parts so that lost parts cannot occur. A method of adjustment which merely requires a foot pad component to be lifted upwardly, slid along the assembly until the desired position is reached and then released downwardly.

Thirdly, when they are released as aforesaid, they are positively locked and cannot slip due to the thrust of the runners foot.

Lastly, no loosening or tightening is required to lock or unlock the foot pad components upon the supporting structure.

Another advantage of the present device is the fact that it can be used indoors and outdoors and that each foot can be adjusted independently in a plurality of positions.

With the foregoing in view, and such other objects, purposes or advantages as may become apparent from consideration of this disclosure and specification, the present invention consists of the inventive concept in whatsoever way the same may be embodied having regard to the particular exemplification or exemplifications of same herein, with due regard in this connection being had to the accompanying Figures in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the device.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the device.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, I have provided a longitudinally extending channel member which acts as a ground-engaging or base portion.

This channel is provided with side plates 11 and base 12, base 12 being in the lowermost position.

A similar channel 13 is maintained in spaced and parallel relationship above the channel 10 by means of end plates 14 which are welded to the channels as shown. This channel 13 is reversed in position with respect to the channel 10 with the side plates 15 and the web plate 16 becoming the upper surface of the assembly.

This web plate 16 is provided with two rows of spaced apertures or drillings l7 and 17', the purposes of which will hereinafter become apparent.

There a foot pad component collectively designated 18 upon each side of the channel assemblies, each foot pad component including a sloping foot-engaging surface 19, a base or ground-engaging component 20 extending rearwardly from the lower edge 21 of the panel 19 and a bracing panel 21' extending from the end 22 of the base panel upwardly towards the upper end 23 of the front panel 19 thus forming a substantially triangular unit when viewed in side elevation.

An elongated web 24 is welded horizontally across the inner edges of the panels 19 and 21' and this web passes through a horizontally located slot 25 defined by the lower edge 26 of the upper channel 13 and the upper edge 27 of the lower channel 10. The thickness of this web is less than the vertical dimension of the slot so that the foot ad component 18 can be lifted vertically within the slot 25. cans 27' are secured to the inner end of the wen 24 to prevent lateral displacement of the foot pad from the slot 25. This consists of a vertically situated strip or stop, the width of which is greater than the vertical dimension of the slot 25.

Means to positively lock the foot pad component in the desired position is provided and consists of a hook element 28 welded to the inner surface of the front panel 19 and extending transversely to one side of the foot pad component. The down turned end 29 of this hook component is adapted to engage any one of the apertures in the rows 17 or I7. The depth of the down turned end 29 is such that when the foot pad component is lifted vertically within the slot 25, the end of the down turned end 29 clears the aperture in which it is engaged thus enabling the foot pad component to be slid along the slot until the desired position is reached whereupon it is dropped so that the down turned end 29 engages another aperture.

It will therefore by seen that the adjustment of the foot pad component 18 is extremely simple and that its position is positively locked once it has been reached.

It will also be appreciated that the foot pad components cannot be removed from the assembly so that no parts can become misplaced.

If desired, the slope of the front panel 19 of the foot pad components can be adjustable within limits and this type of adjustment can take may forms.

A crossbar 30 is welded to the rear upper surface of the upper channel 13 and this is used to stabilize the device if engaged against a vertical supporting surface for indoor track meets.

If it is used outdoors then spikes can be inserted through the holes or aperture 3] formed at each end of the lower channel 10, said spikes engaging the ground.

Various modifications can be made within the scope of the inventive concept disclosed. Accordingly, it is intended that what is described herein should be regarded as illustrative of such concept and not for the purpose of limiting protection to any particular embodiment thereof, but that only such limitations should be placed upon the scope of protection to which the inventor hereof is entitled, as justice dictates.

I claim:

1. In a starting block assembly, the combination of a horizontally elongated ground engageable base of a hollow rectangular cross section, said base having sidewalls provide with at least one longitudinally extending slot and also having a top wall provided with a longitudinally extending row of apertures, at least one foot pad juxtaposed exteriorly to said sidewall for step-by-step adjustment longitudinally of said base, a horizontally elongated web secured to said foot pad and projecting through the slot in said sidewall, said web being slidable longitudinally in said slot and the vertical dimension of the slot being greater than that of the web whereby said foot pad and the associated web may be raised and lowered with a 11 straight vertical movement relative to said base, a keeper strip secured to said web at the inside of said sidewall to prevent removal of the web laterally outwardly from said slot, and an anchoring element secured to said foot pad and projecting above the top wall of said base, said anchoring element having a down turned end selectively receivable in said row of apertures when the foot pad is lowered, whereby to lock the foot pad in an adjusted position longitudinally of said base. 

1. In a starting block assembly, the combination of a horizontally elongated ground engageable base of a hollow rectangular cross section, said base having sidewalls provided with at least one longitudinally extending slot and also having a top wall provided with a longitudinally extending row of apertUres, at least one foot pad juxtaposed exteriorly to said sidewall for step-by-step adjustment longitudinally of said base, a horizontally elongated web secured to said foot pad and projecting through the slot in said sidewall, said web being slidable longitudinally in said slot and the vertical dimension of the slot being greater than that of the web whereby said foot pad and the associated web may be raised and lowered with a straight vertical movement relative to said base, a keeper strip secured to said web at the inside of said sidewall to prevent removal of the web laterally outwardly from said slot, and an anchoring element secured to said foot pad and projecting above the top wall of said base, said anchoring element having a down turned end selectively receivable in said row of apertures when the foot pad is lowered, whereby to lock the foot pad in an adjusted position longitudinally of said base. 